Smap switch for plugs



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C. F. NQRDEN SNAP SWITCH FOR PLUGS- Filed maken 13 1922 v 9 0 A @MM 5 @atenteel May i3, @25st,

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@NAP @WEEE EQR PLU.

Application died. March i3, i922. Serial Bio. 543,323

To all 'whom t may cncem:

Be it hownY that l, CHA s F. Nonnen, .a subject of the `Republic of Germany a resident of New York city, county and tate of e New York, have invented certain new end useful Snap Switches for Plugs, set iorth in the specification. l

rlhis invention relates to snap switches and includes a new mechanical movement i@ especially adapted for the .embodiment in a snap switch for a plug connector for such heavy duty as connecting and supplying hatirons with electric energy.

An object of the invention is to provide a l@ mechanical movement which will insure both a positive and quick make and break and a wide separation of the switch contact parts all within a relatively conned space. A further object of the invention is to provide at in a switch of characterdescribed a simple indicator-device to-show whether the switch is open or closed.

To the above ends there is provided a thrust operative driver havin a striker cooperating with two spaced a utrnents on a contact-bridge between which abutments the striker is located and which striker is snap operated through the medium 'ci a leaf spring, the ends oi which are constrained Se and which is buckled in such a way as to ef- Viect the snap movement of the bridge. A,

:iur-ther object of the invention is to rene the combination of parts and switch elements so as to adapt them for the general pur oses above.

'l ese and further objects will better be understood by reference to the illustrative embodiment of the invention described in the following specification in connection with et the accompanying drawin s which form a part hereofand to whic claims are directed merely for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

ln the drawin s Figure l is a perspective ce viewof the switc embodied in a plug, with parts broken away; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the indicator; Figure 3 is a pers ective view, with parts broken away, of t e window portion of the casin Figure d en is a perspective view of the switch mechanism in open position; Figure is a cross section showing .the relation of the indicator to the casing; and Figure 6 is view individthe following ually illustrating the important parts of the switch mechanism in perspective.

A suitable casing of molded insulating material, such as porcelain, hard rubber or electrosaprovides the housing A for the switch. his casing is formed in two substantially symmetrical parts 1 and 2 held together in the usual manner by screws 3 and 4:. The conductor cord enters thro'ughthe protector 5 andis connected with the conducting strips 6 and 7 which extend the circuit terminals to the usual plug connectors 8 -and 9, it being understood that the gap between the switch contacts 10 and l1 is in push buttons 13 and ld. M1 -positioned on s yoke Y l2 is a ylfolre l2, the ends A l5' striker 15 provided with a slot 16 `for the f passage andengagement of the leaf-spring 17. The driver is suitably guided against lateral movement as by a guide way 18 formed transversely through the parting of the casing sections A and also in a detachable insulating base C designed to iitwithin the casing A.

lin its present embodiment the brid e Bis substantially of inverted V shape an oscilf lates about its acute end 20 in the "notch 2ll provided in the od set buttress wall 22. The legs 23 and 2d of the bridge form abutments cooperating with the striker l5 and are terminated with brush contacts 25 and 26 op-v eratively to cooperate with the contacts 10 and 11 respectivel Upposite to the uttress 22 is second buttress providing a pocket 3l in which is housed a relief spring 32 extending parallel to the driver' B Spring 32 is preferablyl turned downat the ends to insure solely end contact in the pocket '31. The V shaped notch 34 permits the end 35 of leaf-spring 17 to move endwise against-the resistance of spring 32 but constrains it a ainst lateral movement.- The opposite en 37 of leafspring 17 is constrained against lateral movement bythe V shaped pocket at the end 2l of the bridge B.

In Figure 1 the switch is show-n closed. A thrust upon the push button 13 straightens out the leaf-spring 17,I the end being forced down against spring 32 which yields as the buckle of the spring is straightened out. Whenthe spring passes dead center 1t sna s violently to the right, forcibl driving stri er 15 agalnst abutment 24 of t e `bridge piece which draws the 'contacts 25 and 26 out of contact with contacts'lO and 11 and into the osition shown in Figure 4Which osition 1s maintained bythe sides of the caf-spring 17 as indicated.

To close the switch a thrust upon push button 14 causes a reverse of these operations so that the striker 15 o erating against abutment 23 closes the switc into the positionshown in Figure 1.

To give Va visible indication as to the position of the switch contact an indicator is provided which is visible through a. wmdow 41 provided in the casing section 1. The indicator 40 is a slideA bearing suitable designation for on and ,oi such as the red 42 or the black 43. The indicator slide 40 is guided in the slide way 44landis-oper ated by a direct connection-with the 'driver B which may be an outwardprojection of the striker 15 taking into the notch 45 ofthe slide.

`What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a mechanical movement, a reciprocatory driving member, a reciprocatory driven member mounted for movement in a direction in general arallel to that' of said driving member, a; eaf s ring extending substantially at right ang es to the direction of motion of said drlving member and being engaged thereby between the ends of the spring, said leaf spring being restrained against` lateral movement at its ends and arranged to have its center move back and forth across the plane connectin its ends when the driving member is reciprocated, said driving member having a striker out of contact with the driven member when the driving member is at one end of its motion and arranged to contact with said driving member as the driving member is moved with a snap action by the central portion of said leaf spring passing across the plane connecting its ends.

2. In a snap-switch, a thrust operated driver having push buttons at its ends:` means for guiding said driver: a slotted striker mid-positioned on said driver; a pair of separated electric switch contacts; a conducting bridge for said contacts having two spaced legs on opposite sides of said striker a :1d both snap o erated thereby by striking contact with either. said legs also having feet to cooperate with said contacts; and a buckled leaf-s ring constrained at its ends against latere. movement passing through aeeaeae said striker and extending trnsversely of said driver, whereby sald feet ma thrown into and out of connection wit one of said contacts by a thrust upon the respective ush buttons.

3. n a snap switch, a leaf spring, means for constraining the ends of said spring against lateral movement, a reciprocatory member mounted for movement substantially atright angles to the length of the leaf spring and engaging said spring between its ends, said member and said spring being arranged to cause the central portion of the spring to move back and forth across the plane connecting the ends of the spring as t e member 4is moved from a limit of its motion in one direction to the limit of motion in theolpposite direction, and a switch adapted-to e moved by said member in each direction of motion of said member and arranged to receive motion from said member only after the central portion of said leaf sprin has been moved by said member beyon the plane connecting the ends of said leaf spring.

4. In a snap-switch,` snap operating means com rising a leaf-spring; means for constraming the ends of said spring against lateral movement; and a spring arranged to exert pressure against an end of said leaf slpring and endwise thereof.

5. n a snap-switch a pair of contacts; a forked conducting bridge for said contacts having a pivoting fold; a buttress having a notch to pivot said fold; and means tending to hold said fold seated in said notch.

6. In a snap-switch a pair of contacts; a forked conducting bridge for said contacts having a pivoting fold; a buttress havin a notch to pivot said fold; and an en thrusting leaf-spring tending tohold said fold seated in said notch.

7. In a snap-switch a pair of contacts; a forked conducting bridge for said contacts having a pivoting fold; a buttress having a notch to pivot said fold; and an end thrusting leaf-spring tending to hold said fold seated in said notch; and means tending to buckle said leaf-spring to produce a snap-oscillation.

8. n a snapswitch a pair of contacts; a

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forked conducting bridge for said contacts having a pivotin fold; a buttress having a notch to pivot said fold; and an end thrusting leaf-spring tending to hold said fold seated in said notch; and means tending to buckle said leaf-spring to produce a sna oscillation; and a driver for operating said spring past dead-center in either direction.

9. In a snap switch, a leaf spring, means for constraining the ends of said spring against lateral movement, a spring arranged to exert lengthwise pressure on said leaf spring and to permit lengthwise motion of an end of said leaf spring, a reciprocetory member mounted for movement substantially at right angles to the length of the leaf spring and engaging said sprin between its ends, said member and said spring being arranged to cause the central portion of the spring to move back and foi-ih across the plane connecting the ends ,of the spring as the member is moved from :i limit of its motion in one direction to the ing the ends of said leaf s rlng.

CHARLE -F. NORDEN. 

